I don't believe the old man ever gave a dinner, and he'd like to show off a little; there's a good deal of human nature in the old man, after all.

He thought of you, of course, and Colonel Woodburn, and Beaton, and me at the foot of the table; and Conrad; and I suggested Kendricks: he's such a nice little chap; and the old man himself brought up the idea of Lindau.

He said you told him something about him, and he asked why couldn't we have him, too; and I jumped at it." "Have Lindau to dinner ?" asked March.
"Certainly; why not?
Father Dryfoos has a notion of paying the old fellow a compliment for what he done for the country.

There won't be any trouble about it.

You can sit alongside of him, and cut up his meat for him, and help him to things--" "Yes, but it won't do, Fulkerson! I don't believe Lindau ever had on a dress-coat in his life, and I don't believe his 'brincibles' would let him wear one." "Well, neither had Dryfoos, for the matter of that.